{"id":2142,"date":"2026-02-07T16:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T16:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2142"},"modified":"2026-02-07T16:00:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T16:00:04","slug":"the-rudest-thing-you-might-be-doing-when-ordering-wine-according-to-a-restaurant-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/?p=2142","title":{"rendered":"The Rudest Thing You Might Be Doing When Ordering Wine, According to a Restaurant Owner"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Whether it\u2019s date night or dinner out with friends, a great bottle of wine can really set the tone for an evening.\n<\/p>\n

But at the same time, wine can be a bit intimidating. There\u2019s a lot to consider: regions, vintages, flavor notes\u2014plus making sure it pairs well with everyone\u2019s food. Choosing a bottle can feel like a performance, especially if you want to seem like you know what you\u2019re doing.\n<\/p>\n

And even after you\u2019ve picked the wine, there\u2019s still room to trip up. According to restaurant staff, some of the most common wine mistakes happen once the bottle hits the table\u2014and one small misunderstanding often stands out as the rudest of them all.\n<\/p>\n

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The Biggest Wine Mistake Most People Make <\/span> <\/h2>\n

When your wine arrives, the server will show you the bottle, pour a small taste, and ask who would like to try it. This moment is often misunderstood.\n<\/p>\n

The reason for the tasting is simply to see if the wine is spoiled. Wines sealed with natural corks can occasionally oxidize or become \u201ccorked.\u201d It\u2019s rare, but it does happen, especially with older bottles. The tasting ritual is a courtesy to the guest, giving them a chance to confirm the wine is sound or is noticeably off.\n<\/p>\n

However, it’s not their chance to decide whether they like<\/em> the wine.\n<\/p>\n

Jason Lindsey\/Meredith<\/span>
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Calder Millar, co-owner of Fisher\u2019s in Leith<\/a>, says the real decision should happen before<\/em> the bottle ever reaches the table. It’s very important to know what you’re ordering before it’s locked in\u2014and asking questions is encouraged. The more information you have about your pick, the better your chances of enjoying it.\n<\/p>\n

A good server, Millar adds, should flag especially unusual or polarizing bottles, so guests know they may be taking a risk. But once a decision has been reached, it’s essentially final.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you nod and agree once they show you the label, that\u2019s the unwritten rule that you\u2019re signing off on the bottle,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s polite to understand the transaction of picking a wine.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

At that point, you\u2019re really just answering one question: has the wine turned? If it has, the restaurant will replace it. If it hasn’t\u2014and you simply don\u2019t love your pick\u2014don\u2019t expect it to be swapped out for another, especially if the wine isn\u2019t sold by the glass.\n<\/p>\n

Should You Sample Screw-Top Wines? <\/span> <\/h3>\n

If your wine comes with a screw top, the rules are even simpler. Wines sealed with aluminum aren\u2019t susceptible to cork taint, which means they\u2019re almost always in perfect condition.\n<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why servers often skip the tasting altogether. So, insisting on sampling a screw-top wine or claiming it\u2019s \u201ccorked\u201d will likely come across as uninformed\u2014and a little rude.\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Other Wine Habits To Avoid <\/span> <\/h2>\n

Moving your glass while it\u2019s being poured <\/span> <\/h3>\n

It might feel helpful to slide your glass closer, but unless the server is reaching uncomfortably far, it\u2019s best to leave it where it is.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo people aren\u2019t telepathic,\u201d Millar explains. Glasses often get nudged at the last second, and the bottle can\u2019t adjust in time\u2014leading to spills, and if it\u2019s red wine, stains. When in doubt, keep your glass still and let the server handle it.\n<\/p>\n

Flipping your bottle in the ice bucket <\/span> <\/h3>\n

Some diners flip an empty bottle upside down in the wine cooler to signal it’s finished. While it is common, this move can come off as impatient or demanding\u2014and it creates extra mess when leftover wine drains out. A better move is to leave the bottle on the table so your server notices it’s finished, or politely flag someone down if you\u2019re ready for another round.\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line <\/span> <\/h2>\n

Ordering wine doesn\u2019t have to be stressful, but it does come with a few unspoken rules. A little awareness goes a long way, and when in doubt, remember your server isn\u2019t there to judge you\u2014they\u2019re there to make sure you have a great night (and a good glass of wine to go with it).\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Whether it\u2019s date night or dinner out with friends, a great bottle of wine can really set the tone for an evening. But at the same time, wine can be a bit intimidating. There\u2019s a lot to consider: regions, vintages, flavor notes\u2014plus making sure it pairs well with everyone\u2019s food. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kitchen-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2142\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cupcake.website\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}